The protesting farmers refused to call off their Republic Day tractor rally on January 17, and said the probe by the National Investigation Agency is meant to break their big protest. As the agency summoned 40 people, Including farmer leader Baldev Singh Sirsa, for questioning in a case related to the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice, farmers alleged that the government has resorted to "atrocities”. Shiromani Akali Dal President & former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal called it an attempt to intimidate the farmers. Meanwhile, the entry of protesting farmers into Delhi has to be decided by the Delhi Police as it is a matter of "law and order", the Supreme Court said on January 18. This comes as the centre sought an order against the proposed tractor rally on Republic Day, January 26.